The Woman I Was Flirting With Turned Out To Be A Chaebol Heiress - Chapter 12

The car gradually slowed down, and Jiang Ji parked it in an empty spot.

“We’re here, Nian Nian.”

Jiang Ji stepped out of the car with her long legs and supported Li Nianyi by the arm, letting her use her for support as she got out.

“It feels so lively. I didn’t expect there to be so many people on a rainy day.”

Even before entering, the lively atmosphere was evident from the crowded entrance and the colorful lanterns hanging everywhere.

In this bustling scene, the sparse drizzle seemed negligible. People passing by didn’t even bother using umbrellas.

Following the crowd, the two moved slowly inside like fish swimming through a current. The air was filled with mixed aromas of various foods and the music of Kenshi Yonezu’s Gray and Blue.

To Li Nianyi’s surprise, Jiang Ji took her hand. She turned to her in surprise could it be that this clueless woman was finally catching on?

Seeing Jiang Ji’s blushing face, she explained:

“There are too many people here. I’m afraid we’ll get separated…”

Li Nianyi smiled, her eyes curving.

“Alright, then I’ll hold this hand tightly and make sure no one separates us.”

Unlike Jiang Ji’s cold exterior, her hand was warm.

Li Nianyi, on the other hand, had cold hands and feet most of the year. As their palms pressed together, Jiang Ji’s warmth spread to her.

“Ahem… by the way, Nian Nian, since you were so eager to come out with me today, I thought you already had a plan.”

Jiang Ji tried to distract herself with small talk otherwise, just the fact that she was holding Li Nianyi’s hand would be enough to overload her simple brain.

“You thought wrong. I rarely plan anything. When I go out with someone, I let them take the lead. Even when traveling, I’m the kind who likes to lay back and follow the itinerary. I fully submit.”

“I see…”

Jiang Ji looked thoughtful.

“What’s with that look?”

Li Nianyi gave her a teasing glance, lips parting slightly.

“Don’t tell me you’re already planning our next date?”

Even though Jiang Ji turned visibly pink, she nodded.

At times, she could be surprisingly straightforward.

Gurgle

Someone’s stomach rumbled.

Jiang Ji’s eyes drifted downward.

“I’m hungry, Sister Jiang.”

Li Nianyi rubbed her flat belly.

“Let’s go I’ll treat you to something delicious.”

“You’re treating? Then I won’t hold back.”

She dragged Jiang Ji toward the food stalls.

Grilled Beef Tongue?
Two pieces, please!
Juicy, smoky, rich with charcoal flavor.

“Ah hot, hot, hot!”

Li Nianyi took a hasty bite and got burned, fanning her mouth with her hand.

“Why are you rushing? No one’s stealing it from you.”

“I’m a starving ghost reincarnated!”

Once it cooled slightly, she shoved the other piece into Jiang Ji’s mouth.

“You try it too it’s so good!”

“Mm!”

Jiang Ji was caught off guard but began chewing.

Yup delicious.

They continued exploring like they were unlocking a new map.

Grilled squid on an iron plate?
One order!
Savory sauce, tender and smooth texture.

Chilled spicy sour noodles?
Let’s try it too!
Thin noodles, melt-in-your-mouth softness, refreshing chill.

All the snacks were in small portions, perfect for sampling.

Li Nianyi tried everything she wanted and kept feeding Jiang Ji in the process.

Although they had expected the temperature to drop, they ended up sweating from all the food. Li Nianyi took off her outer jacket and draped it over her arm only for Jiang Ji to quietly take it from her.

“I’ll carry your jacket.”

Li Nianyi smiled gently. “Alright, I’ll leave it to you then.”

Holding a matcha-flavored crepe in one hand and a black chocolate-strawberry candy apple in the other, they found a small stall to sit under a canopy, sheltering their sweets from the rain.

“Are you two a couple? You look so good together!”

A young girl pushed her stall over, trying to sell them some orange liqueur. Her Japanese wasn’t very fluent her accent suggested she was from Southeast Asia.

“If you help promote us on Instagram, you’ll get a free jumbo shaved ice tower.”

She handed them a cute card printed with her shop’s address and food photos.

“We’re not a couple,” Li Nianyi replied but her eyes were on Jiang Ji. As expected, a flicker of disappointment crossed her face.

The girl looked embarrassed. “Sorry, my mistake. You just look really compatible.”

“Though we’re not a couple now, who knows about the future.”

Li Nianyi tilted her head slightly, eyebrows raised, casually dropping that line.

“We’ll take the orange wine… and matcha flavor for the shaved ice,” Jiang Ji said immediately possibly because of that ambiguous comment from Li Nianyi.

She didn’t look at Li Nianyi’s teasing smile beside her. Her back straightened like a telephone pole.

Seeing her agree so quickly, the girl grinned and pulled out a Polaroid camera from under the cart.

“How about a photo? Just half the price of a cup of wine.”

Jiang Ji: “Let’s do it.”

The girl happily agreed and quickly prepared the drinks small clear plastic cups with pretty orange paper umbrellas on top.

She guided them through poses.

“Sit closer. Even closer. Rest your head on her shoulder good. Now raise the cups and toast toward the camera.”

Perhaps because she’d been paid, the girl worked especially hard to push them physically closer trying to help this not quite there couple break the tension.

Jiang Ji suppressed her inner turmoil and leaned her fluffy head against Li Nianyi’s shoulder this tall woman suddenly obedient and cute, like a large, well-behaved dog.

“One, two, three cheese!”

With the click of the shutter, that moment’s tension was captured forever.

Jiang Ji felt like her soul had been sucked into the camera otherwise, why else would her heart be pounding so hard, like it was trying to leap out of her chest?

The two Polaroids were handed to them.

“This is our first photo together.”

Li Nianyi said cheerfully.

Jiang Ji stared deeply at the tiny print, her thumb gently stroking the image of Li Nianyi’s face.

“Yeah,” she said.

Then, she turned to Li Nianyi and solemnly said:

“That’s why I’ll definitely, definitely treasure this photo.”

Li Nianyi paused, startled for a moment, she thought she could see Jiang Ji’s eyes tremble.

She had to admit she still wasn’t used to Jiang Ji suddenly saying serious, vow-like things.

“Me too.”

The mood was perfect. Just as the girl thought they might kiss, Li Nianyi looked up and said:

“Can you take a few more photos with our phone? So we can promote you on Instagram.”

“No problem!”

Jiang Ji said nothing, just silently handed over her phone.

The girl enthusiastically posed them, clearly excited after all, these two beautiful women together were truly a sight to behold.

Jiang Ji flipped through the photo album, already thinking about whether to print the photos into a small album or hang them on a felt board.

Forget it she wanted both.

“This one’s so pretty! Send it to me later.”

“Mm-hmm.”

“Sister Jiang, you look so cool in this one.”

“Hmm? Do I?”

Their heads leaned close over the screen, chatting like two adorable little animals.

The girl placed the shaved ice tower in front of them with two spoons, said goodbye sweetly, and pushed her cart away.

The orange wine was sweet and tangy. A spoonful of the shaved ice was refreshing and perfect for summer.

Such a laid back evening was truly a rare and precious moment in life Li Nianyi felt that deep in her heart.

When their stomachs were full, they went to watch an underground band perform, shouting cheers like real fans. Even though Li Nianyi didn’t know the band, she could feel happiness in their music.

They passed many handmade stalls black and white knitted vests, beaded trinkets each item seemed to shout: Take me home!

“Look! Goldfish scooping! Let’s go!”

Li Nianyi’s eyes lit up. She’d only ever seen it in anime before, so she pulled Jiang Ji over excitedly. But after seeing the little fish darting around in the water, she hesitated.

“Maybe we should skip it.”

“Why not? Don’t you like it?”

Jiang Ji was confused.

“They won’t survive with me. I can’t take on that responsibility right now.”

To her, bringing home a little creature meant committing to its life and as someone living alone, that was a burden laced with fear.

“It’s okay, Nian Nian. Go for it.”

She gently pushed Li Nianyi toward the stall. “I’ll take responsibility.”

Jiang Ji probably didn’t realize her words sounded a lot like, ‘I’ll take care of our child.’

The fear didn’t disappear, but something new layered on top of it something warm, like blood running through veins.

They squeezed in among the kids.

Li Nianyi paid for two scoops. The stall owner was stingy the paper nets were so thin they seemed to break at a touch.

She stacked both nets, held the wooden bowl in one hand, crouched down, and observed carefully before striking.

She got one!

Li Nianyi gasped in excitement.

Two lively little fish.

Amid envious stares from nearby kids, she proudly lifted the bowl to the owner.

“Pack these two up for me!”

The way she said it made you wonder if she planned to steam one and fry the other.

The red fish swam happily in a plastic bag. Li Nianyi held them up under the colorful lights above, studying them.

“Let’s give them names.”